Set up your new Mac

Use these basic setup steps to get your new Mac up and running.

Check for an Internet connection

It’s best to set up your Mac somewhere that has a Wi-Fi network or other connection to the Internet. Your Mac will use that connection to complete certain setup steps. If the network requires a password, have the password ready.

Plug in only the essential devices

If you’re using an external keyboard and trackpad or mouse, turn them on or plug them into your Mac. If you’re using an external display, plug it in and turn it on as well, but don’t connect any other peripherals yet. And of course plug in your Mac.

If you’ve never used a trackpad before, here’s a tip: To click, press down or tap on the trackpad surface.

Using 4K displays, 5K displays, and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac

Learn about Mac support for 4K displays, 5K displays, and Ultra HD TVs. Also learn about the system requirements and how to set up and adjust the display or TV.

Supported displays and configurations

You can use 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs with these Mac computers:

MacBook Pro (Retina, Late 2013) and later

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) and later

Mac mini (Late 2014)

MacBook Air (Early 2015)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) and later

HDMI

You can use 4K displays and Ultra HD TVs at the following resolutions and refresh rates via the built-in HDMI port of your Mac:

3840×2160 at 30 Hz refresh rate

4096×2160 at 24 Hz refresh rate (mirroring is not supported at this resolution)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) and later, as well as late-2016 MacBook Pro models, support these resolutions and refresh rates over HDMI 1.4b using the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter:

3840×2160 at 30 Hz refresh rate

4096×2160 at 24 Hz refresh rate (mirroring is not supported at this resolution)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) and late-2016 MacBook Pro models support 60Hz refresh rates over HDMI when used with a supported HDMI 2.0 display, an HDMI Premium Certified cable, and a supported USB-C to HDMI 2.0 adapter.

Single-Stream (SST) displays

Most single-stream 4K displays are supported at 30Hz operation.

With OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 and later, most single-stream 4K (3840×2160) displays are supported at 60Hz operation on the following Mac computers:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) and later

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) and later

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) and later

MacBook Air (Early 2015)

With OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 and later, most single-stream 4K (4096×2160) displays are supported at 60Hz operation on the following Mac computers:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2016)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) and later

With macOS Sierra, MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) and later supports 4K (3840×2160) displays at 60Hz operation over DisplayPort.

If you use a 60Hz MST display with the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) with AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics card or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), only one additional Thunderbolt display can be supported. Learn more about Thunderbolt ports and displays.

You need to manually configure 4K displays to use MST. Follow the steps below to use the display’s built-in controls to enable this feature.

Adjusting your display

Use System Preferences > Displays to adjust or scale the resolution on your display. This can make text and objects appear larger or give you more space on your screen.

Hover your mouse over one of the resolution options to see more detail on that option. To get a Detect Displays button to appear, press the Option key. To see all the available resolutions, hold down the Option key while clicking the Scaled button.

If you change display resolutions when mirroring to a 4K display or Ultra HD TV, some distortion can occur. Turn mirroring off and back on to correct this.

To get the best graphics performance from your 4K display, connect the display or its adapter directly to your Mac, instead of connecting through another peripheral or device.

When connecting your displays, make sure you’re using a supported configuration by connecting them to the HDMI and Thunderbolt ports on your Mac Pro. Attach displays to different Thunderbolt busses when possible (see the figure below). Don’t attach more than two displays to any bus. This means that if you use the HDMI port, be sure to then only use one of the bottom two Thunderbolt ports (Bus 0).

When you start up your Mac Pro, one connected display initially illuminates. Any additional connected displays display an image after your Mac is finished starting up. If one or more displays don’t display an image after startup is complete, make sure your displays and any display adapters are connected properly.

Use more than one 4K Ultra HD TV

You can connect a 4K Ultra HD TV to the HDMI port, and a 4K Ultra HD TV to a Thunderbolt port. Use an HDMI adapter that conforms to the High Speed HDMI cable standard. Check with the manufacturer of the cable to determine if it supports this standard. Don’t use Thunderbolt Bus 0 to connect this additional device if you’ve already connected a 4K Ultra HD TV to the HDMI port.

Use display rotation and scaling with a 4K Ultra HD TV or 4K display

Scaling and display rotation are supported for 4K Ultra HD TVs or 4K displays connected to your Mac Pro using the HDMI port. Some 4k displays might not work with display rotation when the display is set to multi-stream (MST) mode. If this happens, use the display in single-stream (SST) mode instead.

Connect a DVI display

Your Mac Pro (Late 2013) supports DVI displays using Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters. Use a single-link DVI adapter such as the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter for DVI displays with a resolution up to 1920×1200. Use a Dual-Link DVI adapter such as the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter for resolutions up to 2560×1600.

Your Mac Pro (Late 2013) supports a total of two single-link DVI displays. If you connect a third DVI display using a passive adapter or a display using HDMI, it causes one of the three displays to become inactive.

Connect more than two DVI or HDMI displays

Mac Pro supports a total of two DVI or HDMI displays when connected via the built-in HDMI port or using the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter. To connect additional DVI displays, use an active DVI adapter like the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter. You can connect up to six active adapter DVI displays. This requires a powered USB hub since Mac Pro offers four USB ports and you need six USB ports to connect the Dual-Link DVI adapters.

If your software and firmware are up to date, or if you can’t see the image on your screen, try the steps below for your specific issue.

If the display image is blank or unusable

Try these steps if you don’t see an image on your display. These steps can also help if the image on your screen repeatedly turns on and off (flickers), if horizontal lines appear (snow), or if the image is distorted (torn or scrambled).

These steps likely won’t help if the issue is only happening in one app. If you see similar issues in only one window or app, check with the app’s developer for updates or more help.

Check connections

Check the connections to your Mac and external displays:

If you’re using an Apple notebook, try connecting its power adapter.

Make sure the external display’s power cable is securely connected and that your display is turned on.

Disconnect the video cable where it plugs into your Mac, then plug it back in to reseat the connection.

If you’re using a video adapter, unplug the video adapter from your Mac, then plug it back in to reseat the connection.

If you’re using more than one video adapter to connect your display (the adapters are “chained” together), try connecting the display using only one adapter if possible. Some video adapters can’t be connected together. For example, a mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter can’t be connected to a DVI to HDMI adapter.

If your display has more than one video connection, see if using another connection on the display works. If possible, check to see if using a different display or a different adapter works.

Try using a different cable that you know is in working order. Check with the display’s manufacturer to make sure you’re using the cable they recommend.

Restart the Mac with the display connected.

Detect your display

If you’re using an external display, sleep and wake your Mac to make it check for connected displays:

Press the power button on your computer to put it to sleep, or choose Apple menu > Sleep.

Wait a few moments, then press a key on your keyboard or click your mouse or trackpad to wake your Mac.

Adjust video settings

If there’s no image on your display, try adjusting your display’s brightness or contrast. If there’s still no image, or the image appears torn or scrambled, try selecting a different video resolution in System Preferences.

Adjust brightness

If you’re using an Apple Display, press the increase brightness key on your Apple keyboard. To adjust the brightness of a secondary display, press Control-F2.

If you’re using a display that’s not made by Apple, check the documentation that came with your display to see if it includes built-in controls for adjusting its brightness or contrast.

Change your display resolution

From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

Click the Displays icon.

Click Default for display. If you see more than one resolution listed, choose a resolution and refresh rate. If the display turns off when you change resolutions, press the escape key to undo the change.

If you can’t change the resolution of your display because you can’t see an image, restart your Mac in safe mode to reset the display resolution to defaults.

If starting in safe mode doesn’t resolve the issue, reset your Mac’s NVRAM and SMC to reset the video ports on your Mac to their defaults.

Check for third-party display software

If your display works only when your Mac is started in safe mode, and you have display-related software installed, check with the software’s developer for updates, or try temporarily uninstalling it.

If an image appears fuzzy or blurry

If images or text on your display appear pixelated or blurry, check these things.

Check your display resolution

Make sure your display resolution in System Preferences is set to its default. If you’re using a resolution that’s scaled, the image might be magnified to fit the display. This can cause the image to look blurry in some apps.

From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

Click the Displays icon.

Select Default for display.

If you use a monitor or an HDTV connected with an HDMI cable, you might see a difference in video quality if your display is set to television mode. Check your display for a “monitor mode” setting to get the best video quality.

Lower-resolution images on some web pages might also appear “softer” when viewed on a Retina display. This is because Retina displays have a higher pixel density and not all websites use Retina-ready images.

For example, the images below look different when viewed on a Retina display, but the same on a non-Retina display. This happens because the Retina-ready image has a higher pixel density:

If you see contrast or color issues

If your entire display image seems too dark or too bright, you can adjust the brightness and contrast from the Displays pane of System Preferences, or by using your display’s built-in controls.

Adjust brightness and contrast

To adjust the brightness of your Apple display, press the brightness key or F2 key on your keyboard. You can also use the brightness adjustment for each connected display in System Preferences > Displays.

Displays not made by Apple sometimes have brightness and color adjustments built into the display. Check the documentation for your display to see if it includes built-in controls.

When you connect a display, projector, or HDTV using an HDMI cable, you might see a difference in video quality if your display is set to television mode. Check your device for a “monitor mode” setting to achieve the best video quality.

You can also calibrate each display from the Color tab of Displays preferences to get the best color and brightness from your display.

If you see bright or dark pixels

If individual pixels on your display seem too bright or too dark, see these articles for more help:

Connecting displays with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)

The Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter connects 2016 MacBook Pro models with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports to older devices that use Thunderbolt (10Gbps) or Thunderbolt 2 (20Gbps). For example, this is the adapter that you should use to connect your MacBook Pro to an Apple Thunderbolt Display or a third-party Thunderbolt 2 storage device.

This adapter doesn’t support connections to Mini DisplayPort displays, including the following Apple adapters and displays:

Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter

Apple LED Cinema Display

If you’re using the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter to connect to a compatible display and the display doesn’t show an image, try unplugging the adapter and plugging it back in.

Mac Pro (Late 2013): Removing and installing flash storage

The Mac Pro (Late 2013) can have up to 1TB of internal PCIe-based flash storage. Follow the instructions in this article to remove and install flash storage.

Before removing flash memory, make sure your data is backed up. Also, be sure you are planning to use a compatible flash storage device.

Part 1: Remove the enclosure

Before you open your Mac Pro, shut it down by choosing Shut Down from the Apple () menu.

If the computer is warm to the touch, wait approximately 5-10 minutes for the computer to cool down.

Touch the metal enclosure on the outside of the Mac Pro to discharge any static electricity.Important: Always discharge static before you touch parts or install components inside your Mac Pro. To avoid generating static, don’t move around the room until you finish installing the flash storage device and slide the enclosure back onto the computer.

Unplug all the cables and the power cord from your Mac Pro. Do not attempt to install flash storage while the Mac Pro is plugged in.

Slide the enclosure latch to the right to unlock the enclosure.

Next, lift the enclosure straight up and off the computer and carefully set it aside.

Part 2: Remove existing flash memory

The flash storage device (A) is attached to the graphics board by a T8 Torx screw.

Using a T8 screwdriver, remove the screw that secures the flash storage device to the graphics board. Do not let the screwdriver make contact with other areas of the graphics board or damage may result.

Place the T8 Torx screw in a safe place. You will need it when installing other flash storage.

With one hand, gently hold the sides of the flash storage device and gently lift it straight up to disengage it from the flash storage connector located at the bottom of the device.

Once disengaged from the flash storage connector, pull the flash storage device away from the graphics board and place it into an electro-static discharge (ESD) protective bag.

DO NOT pull the flash storage device away from the graphics board until it has completely disengaged from the flash storage connector or you may damage the connector.

Part 3: Installing flash memory

Before reinstalling the replacement flash storage, carefully inspect the connector. The flash storage is keyed with a thin slot that connects with the flash storage connector to prevent incorrect installation.

Orient the flash storage so that it will connect with the flash storage connector.

While holding the flash storage parallel to the graphics board, place the flash storage contacts into the graphics board flash storage connector.

Gently push down until it is fully seated. Do not force the flash storage device into position. If the flash storage device doesn’t appear to fit, verify that you are using a compatible device, and that the key on the flash storage device is oriented correctly to connect with the flash storage connector on the graphics board.-

With the flash storage device in place, carefully install the T8 screw that you removed earlier. Do not let the screwdriver make contact with other areas of the graphics board or damage may result.

Part 4: Reinstall the enclosure

Carefully lower the enclosure over the Mac Pro being careful not to touch any of the circuit boards.

You may need to gently push down on the enclosure in order for it to seat fully.

Once the enclosure is fully seated, slide the enclosure latch to the left to lock it.

If the enclosure latch does not move all of the way to the left, verify that the enclosure is properly installed and fully seated, then try again.

You are now ready to connect a power cord, display, and other peripherals.

If the drive isn’t already formatted with a file system or doesn’t have a bootable operating system, start up inInternet Recovery mode by holding down the Command, Option, and R keys. Once started, you can format and reinstall OS X or restore data using a Time Machine backup if you have one available.

Mac Pro (Late 2013): Installing or replacing memory

Your Mac Pro (Late 2013) has four upgradeable memory slots. These support up to 64GB of memory when all four slots are full using 1866 MHz DDR3 ECC RDIMMs.

Before upgrading memory

Make sure that the memory you plan to use is compatible with your computer. The Mac Pro supports both unbuffered UDIMMs and registered RDIMMs, but it is important not to mix these types of memory. DIMMs that are not properly installed or do not meet the system requirements may effect system performance or not be recognized.

Apple recommends that you use Apple-approved DIMMs. You shouldn’t use DIMMs from older Mac Pro computers in your new Mac Pro. You can purchase Apple-branded memory by visiting an Apple Retail store or Apple Authorized Reseller.

Removing and installing memory

Part 1: Remove the enclosure

Before you open your Mac Pro, shut it down by choosing Shut Down from the Apple () menu.

If the computer is warm to the touch, wait approximately 5-10 minutes for the computer to cool down.

Touch the metal enclosure on the outside of the Mac Pro to discharge any static electricity.Important: Always discharge static before you touch parts or install components inside your Mac Pro. To avoid generating static, don’t move around the room until you finish installing the memory and slide the enclosure back onto the computer.

Unplug all the cables and the power cord from your Mac Pro. Do not attempt to install memory while it’s plugged in.

Slide the enclosure latch to the right to unlock the enclosure.

Lift the enclosure straight up and off of the computer. Carefully set it aside.

The DIMM slots are now visible from the left and right side of the I/O panel.

Part 2: Removing existing DIMMs

Your Mac Pro shipped with DIMMs already installed in some or all of the DIMM slots. Before upgrading the memory, you may need to remove some or all of the DIMMs. Refer to the table below to determine how your Mac Pro is configured and to determine which DIMMs you need to remove and replace to maintain a recommended memory configuration. See the numbered steps following the table to locate specific DIMM slots.

Important: All DIMMs are 1866MHz DDR3 ECC. Do not mix UDIMMs and RDIMMs.

Total Memory

DIMM Slot 1

DIMM Slot 2

DIMM Slot 3

DIMM Slot 4

12GB

4GB ECC UDIMM

4GB ECC UDIMM

4GB ECC UDIMM

16GB

4GB ECC UDIMM

4GB ECC UDIMM

4GB ECC UDIMM

4GB ECC UDIMM

32GB

8GB ECC UDIMM

8GB ECC UDIMM

8GB ECC UDIMM

8GB ECC UDIMM

64GB

16GB ECC RDIMM

16GB ECC RDIMM

16GB ECC RDIMM

16GB ECC RDIMM

Remove DIMMs with these steps.

There are a total of four DIMM slots. Two are located to the left and two are located to the right of the Mac Pro I/O panel.

Access the DIMM slots via the RAM bay release lever (identified by a white triangle (A) at the top of each DIMM back). Push and lift upwards on the lever. The lever should move backwards and up, releasing the DIMM slots to swing out and making them easily accessible. Do not use excessive force on the release lever as you risk damaging the latch.

Locate the DIMM(s) you want to remove. The slots are numbered 1-4 (B). Using your thumb and index finger from each hand, gently grip the DIMM at each end and carefully remove the DIMM by pulling the DIMM straight out of the DIMM slot. Do not twist or force the DIMM out of the socket or damage may occur. Remove the outer DIMMs first to make the inner DIMMs easier to remove.

Place the removed DIMMs into an ESD (electrostatic discharge) protective bag.

Part 3: Installing DIMMs

Each DIMM (F) has a notch (E) that must line up with the key (D) inside of the DIMM slot (C). Note: The key/notch position is different on each side of the computer.

Locate the DIMM slot closest to the interior of the computer and confirm that no DIMM is there.

If available, use canned air to blow dust and other contaminants out of the DIMM slot. Note: Keep the can vertical to avoid spraying propellants onto the DIMM slots.

Gently hold the DIMM ends and insert it into the slot. Ensure horizontal alignment of the DIMM prior to applying any force.

Insert the DIMM at the angle determined by the open DIMM mechanism.

Insert gently until bottom edge of DIMM is touching the gold contacts, then apply more force to fully seat the DIMM.

Do NOT force the DIMM. If the DIMM doesn’t insert, verify that the key (D) and notch (E) are aligned.

Do NOT rock the DIMM into the seated position.

Do NOT insert DIMMs while the DIMM mechanism is in the locked position.

Do NOT bend or twist the DIMM during insertion.

Press the RAM bay back into place after installing all DIMMs.

Part 4: Reinstall the enclosure

Carefully lower the enclosure over the Mac Pro being careful not to touch any of the circuit boards.

You may need to gently push down on the enclosure in order for it to seat fully.

Once the enclosure is fully seated, slide the enclosure latch to the left to lock it.

If the enclosure latch does not move all of the way to the left, verify that the enclosure is properly installed and fully seated, then try again.

You are now ready to connect a power cord, display, and other peripherals. Power on your Mac Pro and verify that your system is operating properly.

Memory verification

To be sure that you correctly installed the memory and that it’s recognized by the Mac Pro, follow these steps.

From the Apple () menu, choose About this Mac.

Click More Info. A window with general information about your Mac will appear.

Click the System Report button to bring up more detailed information on the memory installed in the computer.

Click the Memory tab.

Check to be sure that the memory you installed is listed and appears as you expect it to. In the image below, the DIMMs are annotated (DIMM1, DIMM2, DIMM3, DIMM4) so you can identify the corresponding DIMMs which are numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 at the bottom of the DIMM mechanism.

If one or more memory slots that you installed memory in are listed as empty, shut down your computer and follow the steps again to verify that the memory is correctly installed. Refer to Mac Pro (Late 2013) Memory Specifications to confirm that the memory meets the requirements for your Mac Pro.

If you continue to have issues with memory you installed, Contact Apple Support for information about the support options available to you.

Mac Pro (Late 2013): Memory specifications

Learn which kinds of memory to use with your Mac Pro (Late 2013) computer.

General

The Mac Pro (Late 2013) has four memory slots that you can upgrade with up to 64GB of memory using 1866 MHz DDR3 ECC compliant memory DIMMs. To ensure compatibility, Apple recommends that you use Apple-approved memory. You can purchase Apple-approved memory online from the Apple Store or by visiting anApple Retail store or Apple Authorized Reseller.

Requirements

When you upgrade the memory in your Mac Pro (Late 2013) it must meet these requirements.

Unbuffered (UDIMM) or Registered (RDIMM). Do not mix UDIMMs and RDIMMs.

240 pin DIMM.

1.5 or 1.35 volts.

Use the same size memory modules across all slots to maximize performance.

DIMMs with heatsinks are not supported and may damage the DIMM mechanism.

Important: All DIMMs must be 1866MHz DDR3 ECC compliant. The Mac Pro supports both unbuffered UDIMMs and registered RDIMMs, but it is important not to mix these two types of memory. Mixing UDIMMs and RDIMMs will result in a memory error tone when you turn on your computer.